Multan (Pakistan), Nov 20 (AP) A sixteen-year-old Muslim youth opened fire on Friday and killed a member of Pakistan's minority Ahmadi community in eastern Punjab province, police and the community's spokesman said.

The shooting came as a group of Ahmadis were gathered for worship at a home in the district of Sanghla Hill, local police chief Malik Shamshair said. The attacker, Mohammad Mohab, was arrested, the police chief said.

Also Read | Pfizer Seeks Emergency Approval For COVID-19 Vaccine From US Regulators As Doses Could Be Available by Next Month.

The slain main, Tahir Ahmad, 31, was a homeopathic doctor. Three other Ahmadi men were wounded in the shooting, including the doctor's father whose condition was described as critical. According to Shamshair, the teen said he opened fire at the Ahmadis because they were insulting Islam.

Saleem Uddin, a spokesman for Pakistan's Ahmadi community, condemned the attack and said the members of their community were targeted because of their faith. The Ahmadis have failed to get adequate protection from Prime Minister Imran Khan's government amid a surge in attacks in recent years, he said.

Also Read | Interpol Warns Criminals May Send Coronavirus-Laced Letters to Politicians and Prominent Personalities.

The Ahmadi faith was established on the Indian subcontinent in the 19th century by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, whose followers believe he was a prophet.

Pakistan's parliament declared Ahmadis non-Muslims in 1974. Since then, Ahmadis have repeatedly been targeted by Islamic extremists in this Muslim majority nation in attacks that have drawn condemnation from human right groups. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)